Clam and oyster dredge



11. 11.. SOCKWELL. 'CLAM AND ovsrm 01112065. APPLICATION mm 11111. 14.71921.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.

H. B. sockwm. CLAM AND OYSTER DREDGE. nrmcmou mzb MAR. 14, 1921'.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922 2 sums-sum 2,

um'ren Application filed March 14', 1921. Serial at. 452,131.

and the distribution of weight therein is.

such as to cause said dredge toland on its teeth when cast from, agboat into the water and then on its-upward-travel to turn the teeth away from said boat, thereby protecting both the boat and the teeth from injury; obviating the use of the unsatisfactory tooth guardsnow employed, A serious disadvantage of the tooth guard is that it has a tendency to rid'e the teeth outof engagement withthesurfaceiof' the bed of the stream and in the conventional type ofdredge atooth guardis a-necessity. I he V For the. purpose of illustrating myinvention I have. shown: in the accompanying drawings one form thereof whi h-is at pres .ent referred-byme, since the same has been foundin practiceto give satisfactory results, although it. isito be, understood that the va-' rious instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that myfinvention' is not lin ited. to the precise arrangement and organlzation-of'these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings V Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dredge as itis brought to the surface; or as it appears when about to be cast from' the boat;

Figure 2 is likewlse a perspective view of the *dredge illustrating the, same in opera- 7 tive position. on the bedof the stream v ;arms;,,Fig. 6. aside elevational; view of'the' F 2.;afi d, a v 1 Figures .4, 5, 6; "(Iv and '8 are fragmentary detail views of various parts of the dredge,

ure 3 is an inverted-plan viewpf'Fig.

{Fig. l being a plan viewof the main frame at its point of connection with the chain fromthe'brace bridging the arms '22 and22";

Fig. 5 aplanview of the bowed endoflthe arms 22=and 22 and the brace bridging said PATENT Lofthe main rame 11- FHQE.

. HERBERT R. SOCKWELL, OF PORT 1\T\QRRI$, NEW' JERSEY.

6:11AM ANnoYs'rEn banners,

device at the point where 'th'ej tooth: bar

secured; Fig. 7 a plan view o'fthe mud ShQe and Fig, 8 a side elevationalviewjillustrat mg a stanch onconnectingan'arm of the bag supporting frame with an arm of the rnain frame.v i e d v I. I Like numerals of reference denote like parts throughout'the drawings. v

Referring to thejdrawingsin detailand in particularto Fig Q thereof, the numeral 10 rep-resents my improveddredge as an en:

Specification of LettersPatent. Patented App,- 25,

tirety; said dredge 10 being formed of a main frame 11, preferably constructed'of metal, comprising. a longitudinally extend-v ing yoke, substantially V shaped, the arms 11 and 11? thereof. branching-from anupwardly extending curved portion 12, forniing one extremity ofsaid frame. clevis 13' is securedto the extending'portio'n 12' of said frame 11, toWvhic-lrone'end of the adjusting chain 1.4:; is'linlied;

An adjustable or' interch ngeahle mud shoe or weight 15 is. .bolted tothe underside s ,4 wal ad acen and in fr n of a tooth' a 17 and ri ges said arms '11 and 11 Adj acent'sa d'. tooth bar a I 17, and ,to the rear thereof, abrac'e'orweight i v1 6 likewise bridges said arms 11, and ll? and is'bolted to therupper side of said arms 11 and11 Said tooth bar 17 a is also boltedtg theupper side of 'said'arms' 11" and 11 between the mud shoe 15 and the bracele Teeth 118 are secured to the tooth bar the-conventionalmannerl" H I;

A bag or net supporting frame '19 also branches from the portion 12" of the; main frame ll and comprises the arms 19 and 1 9 ,"terminating in the semi-circular. bows voriber-ids 119 and 1 9 bolted to the-free ends o the msll" an 11 WiHQS Ta Q d E I Vertical extending stanchfions 20 and 21, of graded heights, secured tojthe arins 1-1 and 11: and arms 19' and 19?, assist inmair taining saidi 'arms 19 and 19 at ag duauy incl ne angl from-"said a ms .11 and 11 J In ned ngu ar stan hi n 231 re lik wise secured to the jar'ms'flll 1,1 and arms '19. and 19: Obtuse angular braefi$27 are provided between the stanchions 2 3"andg t" the ends of the bowsor bends 19? and 19- as [S partic l rlyin Fig ,6,a d ang a braces29; between the. arms" 11v and 11 and farms 1 9' 'and19 ',are provided'gas sh j-n in I 'Eigs, 1 2;; kThepernese 9f. thesere f sides of the angular inclined stanchions 23,"

slightlyabove the tooth bar 17 and extend longitudinally above the arms 11 and 11 and are curved upwardly and form a bow at their outer terminus above the like upwardly extending curved portion 12 of the main frame 11.

A brace 22 bridging the arms 22 and 22 is provided just adjacent the bowed terminus of said arms 22 and 22 and to this brace 22 is linked the other end of the adjusting chain 14 as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. A dragging chain 28 is linked to the bowed ends of the arms 22 and 22'.

A flexible S hood or ring bag or net 24: is attached to the bows or bends 19 and 19 of the arms 19 and 19 of the bag supporting frame 19, to -the stanchions 23, the braces 27 and 29 and to a bar 30 which bridges the arms 11 and 11 adjacent and to the rear of the tooth bar17 to which it is secured by means of members 80'. S hooks 25 are em I ployed to connect the links of said bag 2 1 to make it flexible. Weighted links 26 are provided on said bag 24:, as illustrated, to assist in keeping same submerged and in an open position.

The arms 11 and 11 are preferably constructed in rectangular form and the arms 19 and 19 and the arms 22-and v22 in rounded form.-

' mation and the distribution of weight therein, as just described, it will turn forward on its teeth causing the said teeth to engage the bottom of the stream. Any length of tooth may be used as the operator may require; the length of said teeth being determined by the depth of penetration of the bed of the stream requisite to secure the oysters or clams. It is necessary to penetrate the bed of the stream to a greater depth for clams than for oysters, the latter usually lying on the. surface of the bed of the stream while the clams ensconce themselves'in the bed,

especially if it be sandy. I

The mud shoe 15 slopes toward the base thereof as particularly illustrated in Fig. 7

.of the drawings, thereby'permitting it to loosen or break up the surface of the bed or "stream, ahead of the teeth '18, as thedredge is dragged.

The dredge 10- is brought to the surface by means of suitable hoisting mechanism. on 'board'the boat, secured to the chain 28 linked to the bowed end of the arms 22 and 22.- i

The upward movement of the arms 22 and tens Patent is 22 w'illcause the main frame 11, carrying the tooth. bar 17, teeth 18 thereon, and the bag supporting frame 19 integral with said main frame 11, to turn over and reverse its forming the. outer extremity of the main I frame 11 is connected to and beneath the bowed end of the arms 22 and 22 by the chain 14, secured to a brace 22 bridging said arms adjacent the outer or bowed end thereof. I

As the chain 28 is drawn upwardly the dredge 10 gradually assumes a perpendicular position and the main frame 11 is drawn forwardly and upwardly at its inner terminal. by the arms 22 and 22,", The said upward movement of the chain 28 also causes a corresponding upward movement of the said main frame 11 at'its opposite end by reason of the curved outer end 12 thereof being connected with and below the bowed end of the arms 22 and 22 by the chain 14 as hereinweight, and an upward pull at its .outer'terminal, and as the dredge 10 assumes a substantia-lly vertical position, the greater weight of the inner portion thereof will cause the outer portion to' swing inwardly between the arms 22. and 22', and the teeth 18 will. be restored to the position shown in ,Fig. 1, a portion of the bag supporting frame first coming in contact with the side of'the boat and remaining in contact therewith, thereby enabling the operator to bring the bag 24 to the boat 'to be unloaded of'its catch withoutthe teeth 18 catching on the boat or interfering with the unloading, ob-

viating. injury to eithernthe' teeth or the tice has been found unsatisfactory. p i I donot restrict myself to the exact cleta'lls of construction, combination and ar vboat. Atooth guard has been employechpo V .sitioned in front of the teeth, but in pracrangeinent of parts herein set forth. it being;

obvious that minor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention may be made by the skilled mechanic and such departure from what is hereindescribed: and. claimed not involving invention, cons1der ascwithin the scope and terms of my claims.

Q 1 Having thus deseribed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letfl. In a dredge of the class described,"a main frame comprising a yoke with weighted longitudinally extending arms, a tooth bar secured to and bridging said arms, adjacent their terminals, teeth secured thereto, a bag supporting frame, braces connecting said arms with said bag supporting frame, longitudinally extending arms secured to said braces, said arms curving up-.

wardly and being connected at their outer ends, a. chain connecting the yoke of the main frame to and beneath said connected ends of said arms and means secured to said I connected ends of said .arms to lower and .of said tooth bar, a weighted brace secured to said arms adjacent and in the rear of said tooth bar, braces connecting said arms, adjacent their terminals and above the said tooth bar, with the bag supporting frame, longitudinally extending arms secured to said braces adjacent their connections with the arms of the main frame, said arms curving upwardly and being connected at their outer ends, a chain connecting the yoke of the main frame to and beneath the said connected ends of said arms and means secured to said connected ends of said arms to lower and raise said dredge, substantially-as de-.

scribed. y y

3. In a dredge of the class described, a

weighted main frame, comprising a yoke-o with longitudinally extending arms, a bag supporting frame connected with said yoke and the ends of said arms, a tooth bar secured to and bridging said arms adjacent" their terminals, teeth secured thereto, braces connecting said arms, adjacenttheirterminals andv above the said tooth bar, with the 7 bag supporting frame, longitudinally extending arms secured to said bracesadjacent their connections with the arms of, the main frame, said arms curving upwardly-and being connected at theirvouter ends, a chain connecting the yoke of the-main frameto and beneath the said connected ends of said arms and means secured to said connected ends of said arms to raise said dredge, whereby the said main frame thereof is subjected to a forward and upward pull at its inner terminal, the point of greatest weight, and

an upward pull at its outer terminal, so that as the ascending dredge assumes a substantially vertical position the greater weight of; I

the inner portion of said main frame will cause the outer portion thereof to swing inwardly between said arms, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof afiix my signature. I

HERBERTR. sooKwELn. 

